Automatic stop device



April 19, 1949. R, ONES 2,467,977

AUTOMATIC STOP DEVICE Filed March 3, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l Emu W.C.R.JONES APril19,1949- 7 w. c. R. JONES 2,467,977

AUTOMATIC STOP DEVICE Filed March 3, 1947 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2' M an nu FIG? INVEN'I'OI! WGRJONES BY g w PW April 19, 1949. I w. c. R. JoNEs AUTOMATIC STOP DEVICE Filed March 5 1947 I :5 Shets-Sheet 5 7 I ENT OR WCR JONES Patented Apr. 19, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,467,977 AUTOMATIC STOP oEvfo'n William C. R. Jones,; Beauharnois, Quebec, Canada, assignor to Howard Smith Paper Mills Limited, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application March 3, 1947', Serial No. 732,036

(01. Mil-+397 2 Claims. I

This invention relates to automatic stop devices for machines for folding and interleaving sheets of paper such, for example, as cigarette paper intended for individual rolling of cigarettes. v More specifically, the invention relates to auto matic stop devices for folding and interleaving machines equipped with the interleaving apparatus of the so-called interm'eshing star wheel type.

The conventional star wheel interleaving ap paratus of machines to which this invention relates comprises two wheel, members, each presenting a circular series of triangular teeth separated by intervening V-shaped notches. The two wheel members are continuously rotated in opposite directions about parallel horizontal shafts which are spaced apart so that the teeth of one wheel member meshes with the teeth of the companion wheel member while travelling in a downward direction. A loading station is lo cated above each wheel member. At this station mechanism is provided for feeding a continuous strip of cigarette paper. from a supply reel, cutting the strips transversely to provide individual cigarette papers of conventional length. and width and folding. each individual cigarette paper along a fold line located centrally of its width. After being folded, each individual paper is dropped into a passing'notch of the underlying Wheel member and opens up so that the folds or sides of the paper'lie substantially flat against the sloping side walls of the notch. This results in the sides of the paper described in each notch of one wheel being interleaved in the conventional zig-zag interleaving fashion with the sides of two papers deposited in two adjacent notches of the companion wheel as the teeth of the two wheels are brought into interfitting or meshing relation. In order to prevent accidental displacement of the papers deposited therein, the cigarette paper carrying notches of the two Wheels are connected with a source. of suction from the time they reach the loading station until they arrive at the point where the interleaving occurs.

The interleaving apparatusreferred to above is provided with means whereby cardboard divider strips are included in the stream of con-- tinuously interleaved cigarettepapers to facilitate the subsequent division of the stream into separate and. equal packets for packaging purposes.

, With the foregoing in. mind it will be seen that paper is fed fromthe two supply reels toa pair of cutters under normalv conditions as a continuous strip to each cutter. The out paper is then folded and fed without interruption tothenotches of the star wheelsas'they passunder their loading stations and are held. to the side walls of the notches by suction. prior to the inter leaving process. It is, therefore, essential that a folded paper be fed to every successive notch in the star wheel mechanism in order to provide each packet with its full complement of cigarette papers. However, for various reasons, such as weakness in the paper or undue stress from the feeder mechanism, the paper being fed from the supply reel to the cutter is subject to breakage; This causes a, discontinuance of the how to at least one of the cutters. Unless this breakage is immediately spotted, considerable waste is encountered in the continuance of the machine since the supply will continue to the second cutter and the subsequent feed will only be to one of the interleaving star wheels. Likewise, the continuous feed. to the notches of the star wheels is apt to be interrupted, due to a jamming in the folding and feeder mechanism of the loading station or other mechanical defects, so that one or more of the notches are skipped. This not only causes unequal distribution of cigarette papers to the packet but also disrupts the interleaving of the papers with the result that subsequent packets are also improperly interleaved. Unless the machine is immediately stopped, a sustained jamming in the one loading station might result while the other continued to supply the folded cigarette papers and dividers to the star wheel mechanism causing so much additional waste in paper. on the other hand, the jamming might correct itself after one or two skips and go by unnoticed by the operator, resulting in an unequal supply of papers to a packet as well as faulty interleaving of the papers. When such a packet is spotted by an inspector it is sometimes necessary to discard large batches of cigarette papers to ensure that faulty packets are not released for'sale.

It is the object of this invention to provide automatic means for stopping the cigarette paper folding and interleaving, machine whenever the feeding of paper is interrupted.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device which will register a break in the flow of paper from the reel to the cutter mechanism and thereby automatically discontinue the operation of the folding and interleaving machine.

A still further object is to provide means for registering the interruption of the successive feeding of folded papers to the star wheel mechanism and for automatically stopping the machine. when such an interruption occurs.

Another object of this invention is to provide an operating means, actuated by an interruption detector device for stopping the cigarette paper folding. and interleaving machine whenever interruption of the continuous supply of cigarette paper takes place. I

These and other objects, advantages and characteristic features of the-invention will be more 3 readily understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a cigarette paper folding and interleaving machine of the star wheel type, showing the automatic stop devices embodied in my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the operation of the solenoid actuated clutch disengaging mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram of a relay mechanism employed in operation of my automatic stop devices.

With reference to the drawings, the general arrangement of a folding machine consists of a main stand l mounted on a base i I. The stand l9 supports a pair of bobbins of cigarette paper indicated at E2. The paper from each bobbin unwinds over a guide roller l3 and between a creasing mechanism l4 comprising upper and lower 'plates I 4a and [4b which impart a permanent crease to the paper in the middle as it goes by. The paper then passes between a pair of feed rolls [5 and from there is directed to a cut-off table I 6 where the paper is cut into desired lengths for individual cigarette papers by a cutter ll. Each individual paper is then folded along its crease line by means of a blade I8 which is given a downward stroke by the operating mechanism of the machine. The downward stroke of blade l8 pushes the folded cigarette paper through a slot in a box-like loadin station is located over a star wheel 20. A folded paper in each loading station then drops into each individual groove 2i defined between the teeth 22 of a pair of star wheels 20 which are mounted to rotate in opposite directions and in meshing engagement with one another. The papers are held in place in the groove of the star wheel by suction until they are interleaved in the-well known manner of the conventional star wheel type machines. The interleaved papers are then fed downwardly through a magazine 23 onto a conveyor 24, in the conventional manner of such machines, as finished folded paper ready for the packaging machines.

As above stated, considerable wastage of the paper has been encountered due to disruption in the continuous flow of paper from one or the other of the bobbins to the star wheels. I have therefore provided, at strategic points between the bobbins i2 and the star wheels 20, electrical contact means which closes the electrical circuit, at the point where flow of paper has been interrupted, to thereby actuate a device for stopping the machine immediately there is a break or stoppage of the paper in the machine.

An electrical contact means comprising an L- shaped bracket 25 is mounted on each side of stand it between the cigarette paper guide roller l3 and creasing mechanism [4. Bracket 25 is pivotally suspended from a post 25 projecting from stand l9 so that the lower marginal portion of depending arm 21 of bracket 25 will normally ride on the upper surface of the cigarette paper as it is fed from bobbin [2 to cut-off table 15 by means of feed rolls l5. When the lower arm 21 is riding on the paper, the upper arm 23 is projected over but out of contact with upper plate I411 of creasing mechanism l4. Post 26 is insulated from the stand Ill and bracket 25 is electrically connected to any suitable circuit arrangement such as a relay mechanism 29 mounted on the base H, by means of an electrical conductor wire indicated in the wiring diagram (Fig. 4) of the appended drawings. The relay 29 is grounded on the stand [0 (see wiring diagram) and the operation of said relay will be more fully dealt with in a subsequent part of the specification. When there is a break in the paper between the bobbin l2 and feed rolls l5, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, the upper arm 28 of bracket is permitted to swing downwardly about its pivotal connection to contact the grounded stand I0 through said upper plate l4a. This closes the electrical circuit which induces relay 29 to actuate a solenoid mechanism, as indicated at 30, which serves to disengage a clutch mechanism and thereby stop the machine.

A further electrical contact means is mounted over each of the star wheels 20. This contact means consists of a bar 3| of fine shim steel, or other suitable metallic substance. One end of the bar is pivotally mounted on an insulated post 32 to suspend said bar over the teeth of said star wheel at a suitable point intermediate the loading station and the point where interleaving of the cigarette papers occurs. Bar 3| is electrically connected to relay 29 by means of an electrical conductor wire indicated in the Wiring diagram. The bar is bent intermediate its length with its free end projecting in the direction of rotation of star wheel 20 so that it will ride freely over the points of the star wheel. The cigarette papers deposited in the grooves of the star wheel have their side edges projecting slightly beyond the points of said star wheel and thereby serve to keep bar 3| from making contact with said star wheel under normal operating conditions. However, should a break or stoppage in the distribution of cigarette papers to the star wheel grooves occur, bar 3| will drop into the first empty groove and establish contact with the star wheel 29 which is grounded to relay 29 through stand I0. This contact with star wheel 20 closes the electrical circuit to relay 29 which actuates solenoid to disengage the aforesaid clutch mechanism.

The folding and interleaving machine is driven by an electric motor 35 which is connected by a series of pulleys and belts, generally indicated at 36, to rotate a shaft 31 which is engageable with a driving shaft 38 by means of a clutch mechanism 39. The clutch mechanism is actuated by a lever 40 having one end pivotally secured thereto by pivotal means 4|. The lever is fulcrumed at an intermediate point about a pin 42 to a bracket 43 extending from the rear of stand 10. The lower end 44 of lever 40 is connected to one end of a clutch lever actuating rod 45 which is positioned at one side of stand [0 with its free end projecting beyond the front face of said stand. The rod is movable forward and rearwardly, said movement being manually controlled by a crank member 46 mounted on the free end of said rod which, when the rod is rotated, causes a key 41, secured to rod 45, to ride on an inclined surface of a cam member 48 in which said rod is slidable. The rearward movement of rod 45 pushes the lower end 44 of lever 40 rearwardly. The lever, pivoting at its fulcrum point about pin 42, moves the clutch 39 into engagement with machine driving shaft 38, as shown in full line. When rod 45 is moved to its forward position, lever 40 slides clutch 39 rearwardly out of engagement with drive shaft 38, as indicated in dotted line, to stop the machine.

An automatic means which is actuated by relay 29 has been provided for disengaging clutch mechanism 39. Said means comprises a solenoid 30 secured to one side of stand l and a lever arm 50 carried by rod 45 and adapted to be tripped by the trip bar of solenoid 30. Lever arm 50 serves to rotate rod 45 to throw the clutch 39 out of engagement with machine driving shaft 38. Normally lever arm 50 projects horizontally from rod 45 when the machine is operating and trip bar 5| of the deenergized solenoid is in its lowered position beneath the free end of said lever arm. If a break or stoppage in the distribution of the cigarette paper occurs, electrical contact means or 3|, by closing the circuit, induces relay 29 to actuate the solenoid 30 The energized solenoid raises trip bar 5| which trips lever arm 50 to rotate rod 45. A toggle 52 straddling rod has one end pivotally connected to an intermediate point on lever arm and the other end fastened to a tension spring 53 which is secured to stand In as indicated at 54. The toggle is arranged so that when lever arm 50 is disposed horizontally to rod 45 the spring tension on the toggle and the toggle tension on the lever arm are centered with the axis of rotation of the lever arm preventing movement of the lever arm by the spring and toggle mechanism. When lever arm 50 is tripped by solenoid tripping bar 5|, the said centering is disrupted and the tension of the spring and toggle mechanism serves to complete rotation of rod 45 to thereby disengage the clutch with the solenoid to relay 29. When a break or stoppage in the distribution of the cigarette paper occurs contacts 25 or 3| close the circuit to operate the relay 29. The relay energizes the solenoid which throws out the clutch mechanism to stop the machine. At the same time relay 29 lights signal lamp 55 to warn the operator that the machine has ceased to function owing to disruption in the cigarette paper feed.

The clutch operating solenoid 30 is normally deenergized and is electrically connected in circuit with the normally open contact means 25 and 3| so that operation of either of said contact means to circuit closing position in response to breakage or disruption of the paper feed will result in energization of the clutch releasing solenoid 30. Any suitable circuit arrangement may be provided, such as the arrangement shown in Fig. 4. According to the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, the clutch releasing solenoid 30 is connected across the terminals of a relay switch 56 in the relay mechanism 29, the operating coil of which is included in the plate circuit of electron tube 51 so that said operating coil is normally energized to maintain the relay switch open. The grid of tube 51 is connected in the plate circuit of a second tube 58 in series with the aforesaid contact means '25 and 3|. With this arrangement the operation of any of the contact means 25 or 3| to closed circuit position results in a negative bias being applied to tube 51, thus making the plate circuit of the last mentioned tube inoperative and allowing relay switch 56 to close. I

I claim:

1. In a cigarette paper interleaving machine of the character described, a relay switch including a pair of normally separated circuit closing contacts and an operating coil adapted to be energized to close said switch, a clutch releas- Ill ing solenoid connected across said contacts in series with a source of electrical energy, feeler contacts arranged so as to be normally held in open circuit position by the cigarette paper under normal operating conditions and to automatically assume closed circuit position in response to interruption of the paper feed and a pair of electronic tubes connected in circuit with said feeler contacts and with the operating coil of said relay switch and a source of electrical energy, the circuit arrangement being such that the grid of one tube is connected in the plate circuit of the other tube in series with the contacts, the operating coil of the relay switch being connected in the plate circuit of the tube having its grid connected in series with said feeler contacts.

2. In a cigarette paper interleaving machine of the intermeshing star wheel type provided with means for depositing cigarette papers in the paper receiving grooves of the star wheels, a plurality of movable star wheel engaging contacts, arranged so that each contact tends to engage the teeth of a different one of the star wheels but is held out of contact with said teeth by the cigarette papers deposited in the paper receiving grooves of the star wheels, each of said contacts being adapted to move into circuit closing engagement with the teeth of the associated star wheel when an empty groove of the star wheels travels past said contact and electrically actuated means connected in circuit with said contacts and said star wheels and functioning to arrest operation of the machine is response to movement of one of said contacts into circuit closing engagement with the star wheel, said means comprising a relay switch including a pair of normally separated circuit closing contacts and an operating coil adapted to be energized to close said switch by movement of said contacts to closed circuit position and an electrically operated clutch including a clutch releasing solenoid connected across said contacts in series with a source of electrical energy and a pair of electronic tubes connected in circuit with the star wheel engaging contacts, the operating coil of said relay switch and a source of electrical energy, the circuit arrangement being such that the grid of one tube is connected in the plate circuit of the other tube in series with the star wheel engaging contacts, the operating coil of the relay switch being connected in the plate circuit of the tube having its grid connected in series with said star wheel engaging contacts.

WILLIAM C. R. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,045,124 Cox Nov. 26, 1912 1,285,623 Chisholm Nov. 26, 1918 1,710,691 Carroll Apr. 30, 1929 1,886,047 Ritscher Nov. 1, 1932 1,911,650 Smith May 30, 1933 1,963,205 Lawrence June 19, 1934 1,968,166 Pythian July 31, 1934 2,206,841 Horton July 2, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 177,150 Great Britain Feb. 13, 1922 

